Outboard motor lock



July 15, 1952 K. F.' EARNHART OUTBOARD MOTOR LOCK Filed May 19, 1948 Patented `uly 15, 1952 Y. .-aeaosoi., oUTBoARnfMoToELocK;

KeitlizF: EarnhartEllchart, Indi,y assignorlof 'one-f.; halfito Theodore"EricsoinE1kl1arI:;1Ind;lJ

Application May 19, 1948Q'SIrIN.

This invention relates to a lock-.for outboard? motors and. theflike.-

It is an object of this invention to provide a lock of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter-for engagementwith the clamplof'ian outboard motor to secure` Ythe motor against uns-- authorized removal 'frorrr its'mounting ona \boa'torstand.

Another objectofsthisv invention' is to provide` a vlock of this kind' which maybe readily vapplied to the clamping. meansof VAan'outb'oard motor or other similar clamping devices to hold the..

clampssecure against inadvertent movement` towards a. loose condition and [fonsecuringgthe clamps against unauthorized use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lock of this kind which is to be fabricated entirely independent of the device on which it is used whereby it may be employed on other similar structures as desired.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a lock of this kind which by its structure is readily adaptable for use on pairs of clamps while providing for securely locking clamps of various sizes with a wide range of application.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing an improved lock for an outboard motor, constructed according to an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed longitudinal section of the open end of the lock housing.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally a support or standard for an outboard motor which support may be a display support or the rear end of a boat to which the outboard motor may be attached. The outboard motor frame II is secured to the support II) by a pair of C-clamps I2 which are fixed to or formed integrally with the motor frame I I. The C- clamps I2 are of conventional design wherein one jaw or abutment member is constituted by the frame II itself and the other jaw member is formed of a screw threaded in an arm spaced 1 Claim. (Cl. I0-232V clamping jaw member, thearmsd *whichares spaced away from theframeby a hightech-connectingmember-I 5 complete the formationcf -tlie armsfonsecuring 'the#dutboardfmctorrftol= a supe# ports' The '-'screws" I '5ta-re providedTi'with-'A alpadras I 'I onfthesinneif"endfwthereof Lbetween:thearm'sfI I and A=the-frame to' providetlieeactual?clarnp'tlfiere@if^ between.-'- A head as#I81issprovi'dedion-=tiresout end ofthe-screws f I Sto-providel-affigergrip or tightening-the ciampi. Thefhead's--or:finger-grips I 8 are'elongated's'o tliat fanextensio'm I thereof extendsf-radial-ly -fr'omthelsides :offthascrews r I 65 I have providedl a clampl loc-:king:I device fore "-.t-

gagament with the heads I8 of such screws to lock the clamp against unauthorized removal either from a display stand or from a mounting on a boat. The lock 20 of my invention is formed of an elongated tubular housing 2I which is open at one end thereof. The other end of the housing 2I is closed as by a cap 22 which is fixed thereon. Thel housing 2I is also formed with an elongated slot 24 which extends along the length of the housing and opens at the open end thereof. The screws I6 are adapted to be slidingly engaged Within the slot 24 so that the housing 2I may be slid from one end over both of the heads I8 for enclosing them within the lock. A spring or resilient cushioning member 25 is fixed at one end to the cap 22 and is disposed within the closed end of the housing 2 I. The spring 25 is adapted to engage the head I8 of the screw for holding the housing 2| against vibrating and sliding when it is mounted loosely on the screws.

A cap or closure 26 is provided for closing the open end of the tubular housing 2 I. The cap 26 is provided with a central barrel lock 21 which is adapted to extend inwardly of the housing 2| at its open end. The cap 26 is formed with a peripheral flange 28 which is radially spaced from the inner end of the barrel 21 and is adapted to engage about the outer surface of the housing 2l at the open end.

A conventional lock is mounted in the barrel 21 and is provided with radially extending lugs 29 for engagement in slots or radial openings 36 adjacent the extreme outer end of the housing 2 I. The lugs 29 are adapted to be moved inwardly so that the cap 26 may be removed upon rotation of a key in the barrel 21.Y A spring or resilient cushioning member 3| is fixed at one end to the inner end of the cap 26 and is adapted to be engaged within the housing 2| for pressing against the head I8 of the screw adjacent the open end of the housing. The spring 3| being fixed to the cap 26 is removable with the removal of the cap for the application of the lock 20 to the clamp or for its removal therefrom.

In the use and operation of this lock 20 the heads I8 of the screws I6 are disposed in substantial alignment and with the cap 26 removed the housing 2I is slid from. one of the screws I6 over the other for enclosing both of the heads I8 therein. The spring 25 abuts one of the heads I8. The cap 26 may be then attached to the housing by sliding it into engagement with the open end thereof. The spring 3| will then resiliently engage the other head and the lugs 29 of the lock will engage in the openings 30 for securing the cap thereto. In this manner one of the clamps I2 may not be loosened as long as the housing 2I is mounted between the two screws I6. the clamps I2 the lock 2.0 must be totally removed from engagement Abetween both of the heads of the screws I6.

I claim: A

An improved locking device for securing the elongated head screws of an outboard motor clamp against unauthorizedmovement comprising an elongated tubular body open at one end,

a. slot formed along the length of said body open y at the open end of saidbody, said screws being slidable in said slot whereby the elongated heads thereof may be disposed in relative longitudinal alignment within said body, said body having oppositely spaced apertures therethrough adjacent said open end, a flanged circular cap for said body including an annular groove formed in one In order to loosen either one of,

side thereof adapted to receive the open end of said body, the ilange of said cap extending exteriorly of said body and closing said apertures exteriorly of the casing, a locking barrel in said cap, extensible lugs carried by said barrel engageable in said apertures, a resilient coil spring cushioning member carried by said one side of said cap and adapted to extend into said open end for abutment against the adjacent one of the elongated heads, a closure cap iixedly secured to the other end of said body, and a second resilient coil spring cushioning member carried by said closure cap for abutment against the other of the elongated heads whereby movement of said locking device relative to said clamp will be substantially cushioned.

KEITH F. EARNHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 823,030 Brown June 12, 1906 1,169,557 Moore Jan. 25, 1916 1,244,790 Stevenson Oct. 30, 1917 1,582,627 Biddle Apr. 27, 1926 1,881,866 Nehls Oct. 11, 1932 2,279,006 McWalters Apr. 7, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,846 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1908 516,63@ Germany Jan. 24, 1931 

